Rolling mill



June 22, 1965 J. w. O'BRIEN 3,190,100

ROLLING MILL Filed July 23 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. JEREMIAH 14 022/5 ATTORNEY June 22, 1965 J. w. O'BRIEN 3,190,100

ROLLING MILL {3:20 1N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY June 22, 1965 J. w. O'BRIEN 3,190,100

ROLLING MILL Filed July 23 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I I o 1. Q}

44 40 40 m I T 45 a V I I3 E" T 12 45 ms '1 H L- 4 (-f I fl-n-a 47 Pig. 5

INVENTOR. JseeM/m/ w. 0212/5 ATTUR/VEY June 22, 1965 J. w. O'BRIEN 9 ,10 ROLLING MILL Filed July 23 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. P 6 9 JEREMIAH w. OER/EN ATTORNEY United States Patent This invention relates to rolling mills and is more particularly concerned with combination mills, which can be used either with difierent roll arrangements, such as four- .high or two-high- Thus, for example, in some circumstances it is desirable to have a four-high plate mill which is capable of conversion for use as a two-high slabbing According to the present invention there is provided a rolling rnill comprising a pair of fixed spaced apart housings adapted to alternatively receive a first roll arrangement consisting of a given number of rolls or a second roll arrangement consisting of a number of rolls greater than said given number, windows in said housings into which said two roll arrangements are alternatively received, the

aggregate diameters, that is the sum of the diameters, of said second roll arrangement exceeding the aggregate diameters, that is the sum of the diameters, of said first arrangement, roll adjusting means mounted in said housings, bearing-chock assemblies mounted on the ends of said rolls, the length or" the rolls of said first roll arrangement being such that their bearing-chock assemblies are oiiset toward the center of said mill relative to said roll adjusting means, a filler beam received in said window when said first roll arrangement is being employed carrying the bearing-chock assemblies of one of said rolls of said arrangement and transmitting the rolling loads of said roll to said roll adjusting means.

When the rolls of the four-high mill are wider than those for the two-high mill, as for example when the mill is to roll plate'and to roll ingots to slabs, there arises the dificulty of accommodating the mill to both widths. One solution is to render one of the housings movable relative to the other, but this results in a complicated and costly design and in increased time for changeover from one type of mill to the other.

According to the present invention thereis further provided a mill having a pair of relatively fixed housings each having sides defining a window for reception of two or 'more roll bearingchock assemblies, the housing sides presenting bearing faces, for lateral support of bearing-chock assemblies, of greater width than the length of a roll neck whereby a pair of rolls each of a first length are receivable between the housings with the parts of the bearingchock assemblies surrounding the necks at a first inward I position in the housings to provide a two-high configuration or more rolls of a greater length than the spacing between the housings are receivable by the housings with the parts of the bearing-chock assemblies. surrounding the necks at a second outward position in the housings to provide a roll arrangement of more than two-high configuration, the profile of the face of each housing side directed toward the other housing presenting a recess adjacent the zone of the roll bite whereby the roll arrangement of more than two-high configuration with rolls of greater length may work material of greater width than the spacing of the housings.

3,190,100 Patented June 22, 1965 In order that the present invention may be well understood there will now be described an embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURES, 1 and 2 are part sectional elevation of a mill housing having respectively a two-high and a fourhigh roll arrangement, with the rolls at maximum separation;

, FIGURES 3 and. 4 are end elevations of the housings of FIGURES 1 and2 respectively with the rolls at minimum separation;

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal section taken on line V--V of FIGURE 6 through the lower slabbing roll, when in position in the housings;

FIGURE 6 is a section on the line of FIG- URE 5; FIGURE 7 is a section on the line VHVII of FIG- URE 9;

FIGURE 8 is a section on the line VIII-VIH of FGURE 9; and

FIGURE 9 is an elevation of part of the two-high mill with the rolls separated. I

Referring to the drawings, the combination mill has two housings 12, 13 which are secured together at a fixed separation appropriate to the widths of the plate mill rolls (160 inches, in the present instance). The two housings 1-2, 13 are similar to each other and each has a similar window 14 for the reception of the roll chocks. The housings 12, 13 and their windows 14 are appropriate to a four-high plate mill.

FIGURES 2 and 4 show the arrangement when the combination mill is used as a four-high plate mill. In this instance, in the windows of each housing 12, 13, there are in order, a bearing-chock assembly 15 for the lower backup roll having an opening 16 for the back-up roll bearing,

ing an opening 18 for the work roll bearing, a bearingchock assembly 20 for the upper back-up roll, the bearing of which is received in the opening 21, and a bearingchockassembly 22 for the upper workroll which is received in the opening 23. The upper work roll chock 22 is received, in known fashion, within a recess 22a in the upper back-up roll chock 20. As usual, a screw 24 engages against the top of chock 20 and a pair of hydraulic jacks 25 are arranged in a vertical passage within chock 17, one such jack 25 being shown in FIGURE 4, so as to engage between chock 17 and chock 22 and thereby to open the roll gap when the screw 24' on each housing is withdrawn. Hangers 19 engage beneath shoulders formed in chock 20 and are connected to a cylinder 19a mounted on top of the mill for urging the chock 20 for the two slabbing rolls 26, 27. The chocks for the rolls 26, 27 are shown at 30, 31 in FIGURE 1 and it positions in the windows 14 as did the chocks 17, 22 for will be seen that they occupy approximately the-same the work, rolls of the four-high mill. The spacev within the windows 14, previously occupied by' the back-up chocks 15, 20 are occupied by window-fillers 32, 33 which take the form of beams bridging the two housings 12, 13. Beam 32 lies in the windows 14 between the housings a part of the roller tables on each side.

and the chocks 30 for the lower roll 26, while the beam 33 is interposed between the upper chocks 31 and the.

screws 24.

The hangers 19 engage beneath shoulders on the upper I roll chocks 31-and operate to keep beam 33 in contact with the screws. Because the slabbing mill rolls 26, 27" are narrowery thanthe plate mill rolls, the centerlines of the'chocks' I 30, 31 for each roll 26, 27 are, perforce, arranged inwardly of the center lines 37 (FIGURES) of the two housings 12, 13. For this purpose, housings 12, 13 have,

'on eachside of the windows 14,integral extensions 40 projecting inwardly towards each other andreflfectively enlarging the width of the housings at the windows.

These extensions 40,,which increase the lateral support for the rolls 26, 27, are discontinued at 41, in the region of the roll gap, in order to prevent obstruction of the full width'of the roll gap during'theuse of the mill for rolling plate. As will be seen in FIGURE 5, thechocks 30, 31 each have overhanging extensions 42, in order to enlarge the areas of support given by the housings to the chocks. The rolls 26,- 27 are .held in axial position by fingers 43, which are formed integrally with the extensions 42 and which are slidably held between the housing 12 and removable "keeper plates 44.

As before mentioned, and as shown in FIGURE 5 the chocks 30, 31project into the space between the. two

phousings 12, 13 and .aredisplaced from the center lines,

37 of the houisngsf However, proper lateral support is 50 provided by the housing extension 40 and the ecessary vertical support is given to thebearings by the beams 32,

33 which contact the chocks 30, '31frespectively, over their entire length in the axial direction.

" apart housings adapted to alternatively receive a first roll,

arrangement consisting of two rolls or a second roll arrangement consisting of four rolls, windows in said housings into which said two roll arrangements are alterna-1 tively received, the aggregate diameters of said second roll arrangement exceeding the aggregate diameters, of said first arrangement, roll adjusting means mounted-in said housings, bearing-chock assemblies mounted on the ends of said'rolls, the length of the rolls of said first roll arrangement being such that their bearing-chock assem-, 'blies are offset toward the center of, said millrelative to said roll adjusting means, a filler beam received in said windows when said 'first' roll arrangement is being employed tocarry the'bearing-chock@assernbliesof one of said rollsof said first arrangement and transmitting the rolling loads of said roll adjusting means.

2.. A rolling mill comprising a pair of fixed spaced apart housings adapted to receive a first roll arrangement consistingv of a given number. of rolls of a first aggregate diameter, windows in said housings into which said first roll arrangement is received, roll adjusting means mounted in said housings, bearing-chock assemblies. mounted-on the ends of said rolls,.the length of. the rolls of said first roll arrangment being such that their bearing-chock assemblies are offset toward the center of said mill relative to said roll adjusting means, a filler beam received insaid windows when said first roll arrangement is in placefor carrying I I the bearing-chock assemblies of one of said -rolls-of said first arrangement and serving to transmit the rolling loads of said rollto said roll adjusting means, the firstrol l arrangement and beam being removable and replaceable by a second roll arrangement of greater aggregate diam- '-eter' than the first roll arrangement, the bearingrchock It has already been stated that the extensions of the housings 12, 13 are discontinued in the region of the roll gap, When the mill is being operated as a four-high,

thereof. Although not shown the extension pieces, may

be latched to the housings by latching means. Each extension piece 45 is hook-like and is enabled to withstand the lateral loads applied to its by the chocks30, by virtue of the engagement of a shoulder 47 of the hooked part with a corresponding shoulder 47a on the housing.

The housings 12, 13 additionally carry, on each side of the roll gap, a number of feed rolls 48 whichvform Although FIGURESS and 7 show only three such feed rollers 48, a

if desired, the mill may feed rollers.

As will be appreciated, the combination 'mill illustrated,

in the .drawings is. capable of being converted, without undue hold-up of production,-from a tour-high plate mill to a two-high slabbing mill, the rolls in the latter case being narrower than those in the former case. tionally, when used as'a slabbing mill, the rolls are given adequate support both vertically and horizontally atright angles to the axes of the'rolls, although the center lines of the chocks are housings. I a v In accordance with the provisions of'the patent statutes, I haveexplained the principleand operation of my vindisplaced from the center lines of the sider to represent the best .embodiment thereof. However, I desire to have it understood thatwithin-the scope of the appended claims, theinvention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

:1. A rolling mill comprising a'pair of fixed spaced be arrangedto'carr'y more such- Addithan the normal spacing .can 'be worked.

assemblies of one roll of said second arrangement serving to transmitthe rolling load of said one 'roll to the roll adjusting means. r r

3. Arolling mill accordingto claim 2 in "which each housing is recessed in the region of the roll biteof the second roll arrangement to provide a wider spacing between the housings whereby when the rolls of'the second arrangement are of a greater axial length than the normal spacing between the housings, material of a greater, width 4. A mill having a'pair of relatively fixed'spaced apart housings each having 'sidesdefining a windowfor; recep'a tion of two or more roll bearing-chock assemblies, the housing sides presenting bearing faces, for'la'teral support} of bearing-chock.assemblies, of-fgreater width than the length of a, roll neck whereby a pair of rolls each of a first length are receivable between the housings with the parts of the bearing-chock assemblies "surrounding the necks at a first inward position in the housings to provide a two-high configuration or more rolls, of a greater length than the spacing between thehousings are, receivable by the housings with the parts of the bearingchock assemblies surrounding .the necks at alsecond outward position in the housings to provide a roll arranger ment of more than two-high configuration, the profile of the face of each housing side directed toward the other housing presenting a recess adjacent. the zone of the-roll vention and have illustrated and described what I .con-

bite to provide a wide space between the housings whereby the roll arrangementof more than two-high configuration with rolls of greater length may work material of greater width than the normal spacing of the housings,

5; A mill having a pair' of relatively fixed'spaced-apart housings each having sides defining .a window, a pair of rolls located between the housings, the necks beingr'e ceived by bearing-chock assemblies in the windows, the opposed faces of each" window being of greater width than the length of a roll neck, the face of each housing side directed toward the other, housing being profiled to, define a recess in the region of the bite to provide a locally ina 2 creased spacing between the housings whereby when rolls of a greater axial length than the normal spacing between:

the housings are mounted in the mill material of a greater width than the normal spacing may be worked; and the bearing-chock assemblies engaging window filling means engaging said housing windows.

6. A mill according to claim 5 in which each housing side includes a projection extending toward the other housing, a surface of each projection providing a support surface for a bearing-chock assembly of a roll of the first length, the projection being interru ted to define the recess.

7. A mill according to claim 6 including displaceable means on each housing side which in a firstposition lies in the recess to reduce the recess and in a second position lies clear of the recess.

8. A mill acording to claim 5 in which the bearingchock assembly at one end at least of each roll has flanges each received by a recess in a housing side to locate the bearing-chock assembly axially.

7 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES W; LANHAM, Examiner.

1/04 V011 Philp 80-13 10 2,037,210 4/36 Buente s0 1.3' 

1. A ROLLING MILL COMPRISING A PAIR OF FIXED SPACED APART HOUSINGS ADAPTED TO ALTERNATIVELY RECEIVE A FIRST ROLL ARRANGEMENT CONSISTING OF TWO ROLLS OR A SECOND ROLL ARRANGEMENT CONSISTING OF FOUR ROLLS, WINDOWS IN SAID HOUSINGS INTO WHICH SAID TWO ROLL ARRANGEMENTS ARE ALTERNATIVELY RECEIVED, THE AGGREGATE DIAMETERS OF SAID SECOND ROLL ARRANGEMENT EXCEEDING THE AGGREGATE DIAMETERS OF SAID FIRST ARRANGEMENT, ROLL ADJUSTING MEANS MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSINGS, BEARING-CHOCK ASSEMBLIES MOUNTED ON THE ENDS OF SAID ROLLS, THE LENGTH OF THE ROLLS OF SAID FIRST ROLL ARRANGEMENT BEING SUCH THAT THEIR BEARING-CHOCK ASSEMBLIES ARE OFFSET TOWARD THE CENTER OF SAID MILL RELATIVE TO SAID ROLL ADJUSTING MEANS, A FILLER BEAM RECEIVED IN SAID WINDOWS WHEN SAID FIRST ROLL ARRANGEMENT IS BEING EMPLOYED TO CARRY THE BEARING-CHOCK ASSEMBLIES OF ONE OF SAID ROLLS OF SAID FIRST ARRANGEMENT AND TRANSMITTING THE ROLLING LOADS OF SAID ROLL ADJUSTING MEANS. 